The Research Gym
Every figure in this gym is one person who teaches movement to kids with disabilities. We asked them where research fits in their work.
The people up front are the newest: 10 with less than two years on the job. Behind them stand 25 with two to five years, then 18, then 41. At the back are 51 veterans with more than 20 years each.
We asked everyone whether they could recall a specific study that changed how they teach.
72 said no. 17 weren't sure. 41 said yes.
Experience helps, a little. Of the 35 people with five years or less, only 7 could name a study.
The veterans did better: 18 of the 51 could. But 19 of them still couldn't. After two decades in the gym, the yes and no crowds here are about the same size.
Then we asked which source shapes their teaching most. Only 3 of 145 picked a peer-reviewed journal.
Conferences (26), Facebook groups (22) and colleagues (21) do most of the teaching.
When research does reach them, can they use it? 57 say turning findings into practice is hard. 49 say it's neither hard nor easy. Only 17 call it easy.
And they feel far from the people doing it. 56 rate their connection to researchers a 1 or 2 out of 5. Just 23 feel close.
Yet 71 say they're eager to help shape research, a 4 or 5 out of 5.
41 of those eager people have never taken part in a study. Nobody has asked them yet.
Research isn't reaching this gym, but the people in it are ready for it. 104 of them left advice for researchers. 90 named a question they wish someone would study.
Walk around and meet them.